Stocks today took their worst single-day hit in eight months, with investor sentiment battered by European debt and worries about the global recovery.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 268.37 points, or 2.6 percent, to 10,002.18, its worst daily loss since April 20, 2009. The Dow had dipped under 10,000 just ahead of the close, its first lapse under that level since early November.